Springform Pan Serving Tray/pedestal

ABSTRACT

The springform pan serving tray/pedestal is a food serving tray/pedestal that contains a recess in its top surface to secure and conceal the bottom of a springform pan. When a springform pan is used in preparing food, its bottom is typically left in place on the bottom of the food when the food is served for consumption. The food with the bottom of the springform pan still attached is then placed within this recess to secure and conceal the bottom of the springform pan while transporting, serving, and cutting the food.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/236,966 filed Oct. 4, 2015, the content of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of kitchen serveware. The present invention is more particularly directed to serveware used for foods prepared with a springform pan.

With the typical use of a springform pan, one would create food that upon its completion would be cut and served for consumption. The problem lies with the actual serving of the food created, as typically the bottom of the springform pan is left in place while serving to prevent damage to the food that can occur when removal from the bottom of the springform pan is attempted. When left on the food, the bottom of the springform pan is then unsightly for presentation of the food when it is placed on a flat serving tray/pedestal. In addition, the bottom of the springform pan that is still attached to the food then slides around on the serving tray/pedestal. This is due to the bottom of the springform pan being metal and the chosen serving tray/pedestal often being a ceramic or glass material, which then provides for very little friction at the interface of these two materials. The result could be dropped food or frustrated individuals as they attempt to transport, serve, and cut the food on a very slippery and unstable surface.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The springform pan serving tray/pedestal is a food serving tray/pedestal containing a recess within the top surface of the serving tray/pedestal to secure and hide the bottom of the springform pan at the underside of the food. Food prepared using a springform pan (i.e. quiches, pizzas, cakes, tarts, etc.) can be placed for presentation and serving within the recess of the springform pan serving tray/pedestal while keeping the bottom of the springform pan in place on the bottom of the food. This recess keeps the food and the attached springform pan bottom secure and prevents them from sliding around on the serving tray/pedestal during transporting, serving, and cutting. Additionally, this recess keeps the unsightly bottom of the springform pan hidden from view.

Existing serving tray/pedestals assume the food being served will be placed in direct contact with the tray/pedestal. They make no allowance for food prepared in springform pans where the bottom remains in place. On existing serving tray/pedestals, the unsightly bottom of the springform pan can be seen during presentation and it slides around on the surface of the tray/pedestal. The springform pan serving tray/pedestal solves both of these problems by providing a serving tray/pedestal with a recess specific for use with food prepared with a springform pan.

Another feature of the springform pan serving tray/pedestal is an insert that can be used to fill the recess thereby creating a flush top surface over the entire springform pan serving tray/pedestal. This insert allows the springform pan serving tray/pedestal to be used with food items that do not contain a springform pan bottom or where a flatter serving surface is desired.

Those who have created food using a springform pan will now be able to enjoy serving this food on a serving tray/pedestal that is specifically designed to conceal the bottom of the springform pan and prevent sliding of the food during transporting, serving, and cutting. The springform pan serving tray/pedestal would be used by anyone that wishes to serve food that has been prepared using a springform pan. This includes households, professional chefs, restaurants, bakeries, etc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 2 for the springform pan serving tray/pedestal 10 and is a cross sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 2 for the springform pan serving tray/pedestal insert 12.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the springform pan serving tray/pedestal 10 and is a top view of the springform pan serving tray/pedestal insert 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the present invention is directed to kitchen serveware. The present invention is further directed to a piece of serveware used for foods prepared with a springform pan.

The present invention is a food serving tray/pedestal from which food (i.e. quiches, pizzas, cakes, tarts, etc.) created in a springform pan can be placed for presentation and serving while keeping the bottom of the springform pan in place on the bottom of the food. The unsightly and slippery bottom of the springform pan will be hidden from view and secured for transporting, serving, and cutting in the recess.

Turning now to the drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like or corresponding aspects of the drawings. As shown in and with particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a springform pan serving tray/pedestal 10 is shown to have a recess 14 in its top surface into which a food item with the bottom of the springform pan still attached can be placed. Additionally, the springform pan serving tray/pedestal insert 12 is a secondary piece that fits within the recess 14 of the springform pan serving tray/pedestal 10 to allow the recess 14 to be filled creating a flush surface with the decorative exposed edge 18. More specifically, the springform pan serving tray/pedestal insert 12 allows for serving dishes and food items other than those where the springform pan bottom is left in place or for any reason where a flatter surface is desired for serving.

The inventive subject matter comprises a recess 14 that differentiates the springform pan serving tray/pedestal 10 from other serving tray/pedestals currently on the market. The recess 14 is a depressed area in the top of the springform pan serving tray/pedestal 10. The recess 14 is set inside the decorative exposed edge 18. The recess 14 is shown to be circular in shape per FIGS. 1 and 2, but can be configured to fit different styles and shapes of springform pans (i.e. square, rectangular, etc.). The recess depth 16 forms the separation between the recess 14 and the decorative exposed edge 18. The recess depth 16 is the depth of the recess 14 from the top of the decorative exposed edge 18. The recess depth 16 will match the height of the bottom of the springform pan such that the bottom of the food item will be placed close to the top surface of the decorative exposed edge 18. The recess depth 16 will also be such that the bottom of the springform pan is fully concealed from sight and will ensure that this bottom of the springform pan is not in the way when cutting the food. The recess depth 16 can be any dimension and will vary depending on the style of the springform pan for which it is designed.

The decorative exposed edge 18 is a surface that both serves as the decorative edge of the springform pan serving tray/pedestal 10 and as a surface to catch crumbs while cutting and serving the food. The decorative exposed edge 18 can vary in width depending on the desired look and size (diameter) of the springform pan serving tray/pedestal 10.

The pan release void 20 is at the perimeter of the recess 14 contained within and the full depth of the recess depth 16. The bottom of the springform pan, along with the food item, can be removed from the recess 14 by use of the pan release void 20. By placing one's finger within this pan release void 20, one can grasp the bottom of the springform pan and remove it from the recess 14. The pedestal 22 elevates the springform pan serving tray/pedestal 10 above the tabletop and is located on the bottom of the recess 14 and the decorative exposed edge 18. The pedestal 22 can be any shape, style, height, and may contain any number of designs in order to serve as a decorative element for the present invention. In addition, the pedestal 22 could be omitted entirely just leaving the recess 14, decorative exposed edge 18, and the pan release void 20. In this configuration the springform pan serving tray/pedestal 10 would resemble more of a traditional tray that would not elevate the dish. The pedestal bottom 24 of the springform pan serving tray/pedestal 10 is located on the bottom of the pedestal 22 and is the surface that is placed on the table, counter, or other horizontal surface.

The springform pan serving tray/pedestal insert 12 fits within the recess 14 of the springform pan serving tray/pedestal 10. As viewed in FIG. 2, the size of the springform pan serving tray/pedestal insert 12 is smaller than the outline of the recess 14 by approximately one-sixteenth ( 1/16) of one (1) inch. As viewed in FIG. 1, the edge of the springform pan serving tray/pedestal insert 26 matches the height of the recess depth 16 on the springform pan serving tray/pedestal 10. The top surface of the springform pan serving tray/pedestal insert 28 is flush with the decorative exposed edge 18 when it is placed within the recess 14. The springform pan serving tray/pedestal insert 12 can also be removed by using the pan release void 20.

It is the intent that the materials from which the springform pan serving tray/pedestal 10 and the springform pan serving tray/pedestal insert 12 are made match the array of materials from which current serveware and dishware is fabricated. This could include ceramics, plastics, glass, metal, etc. The manufacturing processes for these materials would be the same as those currently used in the market.

Those skilled in the art of manufacturing serveware such as the disclosed present invention can determine without undue experimentation, the appropriate dimensions, geometries, materials, and other features of the springform pan serving tray/pedestal 10 and the springform pan serving tray/pedestal insert 12. Similarly, those skilled in the art will understand from the disclosure herein that various modifications to the components of the springform pan serving tray/pedestal 10 and the springform pan serving tray/pedestal insert 12 without departing from the scope of the invention. More specifically, the present invention is not limited to any particular method of forming the recess 14, the pan release void 20, or the springform pan serving tray/pedestal insert 12 and the recess 14, the pan release void 20, and the springform pan serving tray/pedestal insert 12 could be made in varying depths, shapes, and angles. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A recess within serveware for receiving a springform pan bottom, comprising: a depressed area within the top surface of said serveware; wherein said depressed area has a surface located below the top surface of said serveware; and wherein said depressed area has an edge extending upwardly at the perimeter of said depressed area that is connected to the top surface of said serveware.
 2. The recess of claim 1, wherein the perimeter of said depressed area forms the same shape as the shape formed by the perimeter of said springform pan bottom.
 3. The recess of claim 2, wherein said shape formed by the perimeter of said depressed area is proportionally larger than said shape formed by the perimeter of said springform pan bottom.
 4. The recess of claim 3, wherein said shape formed by the perimeter of said depressed area is proportionally larger than said shape formed by the perimeter of said springform pan bottom by no more than one-eighth (⅛) of one (1) inch.
 5. The recess of claim 1, wherein said springform pan bottom remains on the bottom of a prepared food item.
 6. The recess of claim 1, wherein said edge forms a 90-degree or greater angle with said surface of said depressed area.
 7. The recess of claim 1, wherein the depth of said depressed area below said top surface is the same dimension as the height of said springform pan bottom.
 8. The recess of claim 1, wherein a semicircular void extending outwardly beyond the perimeter of said depressed area exists to the height of said top surface and to the depth of said surface of said depressed area for the purpose of removing said springform pan bottom.
 9. An insert to fill a depressed area within the top surface of serveware, comprising: a bottom surface that matches the surface profile of said depressed area; and an edge extending upwardly from the perimeter of said bottom surface; and a top surface; wherein said top surface is connected at its perimeter to said edge.
 10. The insert of claim 9, wherein the perimeter of said insert forms the same shape as the shape formed by the perimeter of said depressed area.
 11. The insert of claim 10, wherein said shape formed by the perimeter of said insert is proportionally smaller than said shape formed by the perimeter of said depressed area.
 12. The insert of claim 11, wherein said shape formed by the perimeter of said insert is proportionally smaller than said shape formed by the perimeter of said depressed area by no more than one-eighth (⅛) of one (1) inch.
 13. The insert of claim 9, wherein said edge matches the profile of the edge connecting the perimeter of said depressed area and the top surface of said serveware.
 14. The insert of claim 9, wherein said top surface is flush with the top surface of said serveware when said insert is placed within said depressed area. 